Piano-violin.



J.. BAJDE.

PIANO VIOLIN. Y APPLIOATIONI'ILED JAN. 16, 1908 Patented N 0V. 9, 1909.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.,

W Inventor.

J. BAJDE PIANO VIOLIN. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16,1968.

Patented Nov, 9, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET-Z.

Inventor. v

Witnesses y J. BAJDE.

' PIANO VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 190a;

Q Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

ESHBETS-SHEET s.

Witness es, yum 76. m.

lnientor;

J. BAJDE. PIANO VIOLIN.

7 APPLICATION FILBDMNflfi, 1908. I 939,786, Patented Nov. ,9, 1909. I a SHBETSSHEET 4.

Witnesses.

Witnesses.

' BAJDE. PIANO VIOLIN. v APPLIOAT ION FILED JAN. 16. I908.

939,786, Patented NOV. 9, 1909 5 SHEETSw-SHEET 5.

. ing to be a full, clear, and exact'deseriptionasaxise.

oirnsnns JOHANN BAJDE, or NEAR LAIBAC'H, AUs'rRrA-HUNGAiiv, assieivoa 'ro THE rrnivii r LUDWIG I-IUPFELI) AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF LEIIZIG, GERMANY. h

Piano-VIOLIN.

residing at No. 62 .Unterzischka', near Laibach, Austria-Hungary have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plano- Violins; and I do hereby declare'the fellowof the invention, such as will enable, others skilled in the art to which" it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanyinr drawings, and to let-- tersor figures of re erence marked thereon, which form a part of this specifieation My invention relates toimprovements in piano violins andhas for its object to provide means for setting the strings in vibration asv with a violin bow and includes a the strings within the'bow and key operated devices to presentthe strings to the bow said devicesbeing of mechanical pneumatical or electrical construction together with other details hereinafter described.

The instrument comprises a group of strings I for the higherfnotes distributed in two similar sets arranged in a circle about two drums l, the arrangement and structure of both of which are identical, one set being for the highestv or violin notes and the other set being for-the next lower tones of the viola. There is a second grou of strings II for the lower tones of the ce lo and base and a third group of strings III operated .in a manner of a piano for the lowest notes.

For the higher tones the group ofstring's l is divided preterablyinto two'sets one for violin strings, and the other for the viola. strings, each set'being identical I will describe but one "or. them?"- Referring to the drawings in which like parts are s m larly des gnated, Figure 1 is a vertical trans erse section of the instrument on line 1- Fig. 2.. Figs. 1, 1", 1. are detail views, of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 1s a section on the line A 13 of Fig.1, Fig. 3 is a section on the line C'D.of Figs. '1 and 2, showing the lower, part of the instrument in plan view. Fig. 4: is a' section on the 1i11eE F,

of Fig. 3. --Fi 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 an elevation of a portion of the ring-bow. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailviews of Fig. 5. Fig. 5" isa side'view of Fig. 5% Fig. 5 is a Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed'l'anuary 16, 1908. Serial No. 411,131.

pin in elevation. F ig. 7 is a modification,

showing pneumatic operating devices.

cross section of the box showing a screw and Patented Nov. 9', 1999.

structures has been that the bow whenasetting in vibration a particular string 01' strings at the same time had to glide over .the. remaining or other, silent strings, there sult being that there was an extraordinary amount v of friction and wear consuming 'con siderable power. I have constructed a bow operating in relation-to'the strings-iniwhich only that power is consumed requisite :for setting the particular string or strings to be sounded in'vibration in addition of course to a small amount of-triction of the moving parts.

One

providing a ring bow comprising hairs or strands ofhair of equal length each hair :or.

feature of my invention consists in! strand separately strung whereby the hairs single sounding board or sounding box for the lower tones, one group of strings being on one .side thereof and the other group being on the other side thereof.

The soundin r board or box 1 is preferablycylindrical ant is suspended by means ofbrackets 2 supported on horizontal fixed rails 3 one of the latter being at the front and the other at the back of the instrument and secured to and forming part of the case. Each string 4 is mounted on a bar or support 5,

supported on the sounding board 1 bymeaus' or pivots 6 near its top and 7 near its bottom so that the support can be swung outward. Each string is held toward the sounding box by means of a spring 9, see Figs. 1 and a.

, The vibration of the strings 1s set up by a ring bow 10, said ring bow being supported from cross arms 12 secured to the vertical shaft 11 passing centrally through the sbunding box 1. The lower end of this shaft has bearing in -a suitable step 11 while the upper end of this shaft has bearings in cross clear full tone.

arms 12 mounted on the brackets 2. In'or der to prevent the hairs of thebow from crossing one another at the-angles of'the many sided polygon forming this substantially circular bow, I prefer to stretch each hair separately and in parallel planes separated from one another at least by the thick ness of a hair so that each hair will be free passed over the next pin and again over the first two back to the same hole 15 in the screw 14 so that the hairs or parts of hairs tained to ive a full clear tone.

will lie in substantially parallel planes over one another. In a similar manner. other hairs arelaid around pins 16 and stretched in parallel planes forming chords of a 'circ e in the manner shown in Fig. 5, and form a circular bow of somewhat less diameter than the ring 10. Since all the hairs of this how are arranged in parallel planes combining to form a circular bow and the hairs are in superposed vertical planes uniformly dis tributed, the necessary width of bow is oblnFig. 5" is shown the arrangement of a single hair.

The two ring bows 10-are simultaneously driven from a treadle mechanism in the same direction. For this purpose thereis provided beneath the cross arm support-12 of each bow, a. grooved wheel 17 in which is an endless cord 18 passing at the rear directly from one wheel 17 to the other thence over grooved guide wheels 19, 20 to a ver- -"tical driving wheel 22 and making a complete turn aroundthis wheel. '1. he wheel 22 is mounted on a shaft 21 hawing suitable e bearingssupported by rods 21. Theshaft provided on its ends with oppositely directed cranks whose crank'pins take into rods 23; one end of each rod is connected at the rearto a spring 24: and the other endthereof is connected by belt or cord pass ing over a pulley 26, to pedal 27. By alternately depressing the pedals the wheel 22 is set in rotation thereby causing the continuous cord 18 to rotate same direction.

A Each bar 5 carrying a string4 is connected to a'key lever 30 havin a key in the bank of keys-t, by means ot a cord 25) both bows in the ceases passin over r0llers 28 and'28 to the rear end 0 key if is depressed the rear end of the key lever 30 is raised to pull cord 29, thereby swinging the string support 5 outward against the bow and against the stress of its retracting spring 9. V

By increasing or decreasing the pressure on the key t,- the string can be brought with greater or less pressure against the bow and thereby. the intensity of the tone for the piano and forte playing may be varied. The intensity of the tone can also be varied by varying the speed of rotation of the ring bows which can readily be done by increasing or decreasing the speed of pedaling. Each string 4 is secured at itslower end to the key lever 30 so that when the a pin or other securing device 31 mounted on the lower end of the string support 5,

then passes over a lever 32, forming'the upper bridge, under a fixed hook 33 to the tension screw 8. The bent tremolo lever 32 is connected to a cord .9 passing over the rollers i', r, to the rear end of the lever h; This lever is provided with a pin It passing through its appertaining key lever 30 and ending in knob 70. The pin Z: passes freely through the key t and is not actuated when the ke t is depressed, but when atremolo effect is to be produced the knob I," is rapidly depressed and released whereby the lever h is vibrated producing a vibratory pull on cord and vibrating lever 32 whereby that portion of the string t lying between its lower support 31 and the hook is rapidly bent outward and released giving a tremolo tone when the bow is drawn over it.

lt of course unnecessary to state that suitable means n ay be provided whereby the tren'iolo levers It may be locked to their re 'spective key levers 30 so that an entire movement may be played in tremolo if desired from the keys t. I The lower tones cello and base, are arranged in group It at the rear of the sounding board and at the rear in the upper part of the instrun'ient. Since these heavier strings cannotbe properly. set'in vibration by a mechanically operated bow, l. have provided special means for actuating them.

Each string 34 stretched over the sounding board 35 between suitable bridges and in a manner now in vogue in pianos, is provided at its lower end with a tuft of-bristles or other suitable material 36'; the tuftsf36 are all arranged in a line across the instrument and above the line of tufts is a resined roller 7) driven by means of a cord from the main driving device. 'On the shaft 21 is'a small pulley 37- driving a shaft 37 by means of the cord 38 passing over the pulley .37.". The shaft 37 carries a second roller 37" which isconnected by cord 38' with a pulley 37 on the roller Z). In order to set a string in vibration means are provided to bring the engage the roll at ."the proper point.

on the resined surface.

tuft on the string into contact with the roller b and the friction'bet'ween' the two will set" up vibration in the string.

Onthe rear end of; each slidable pin 40 passing through holes in plates 40 secured to thefixed rail'39. Above each pin 40 is a. stirrup or yoke 1-2 rotatable about a horizontal pin 41 and in which an adjusting screw 43 is held. Onthis screw is mounted a carrier piece or block 44 pre vented from rotating inany suitable man- This block carries a loop spring145 whose upper portion forms an abutment for the tuft36. Assoon as the-key lever 31 is depressed, pin/i0 is raised to lift the fork 42 and the spring 45 presses the tuft against the roll I), and causes the string to be vibrated. By turning the adjusting screw 43 the spring 45 can be-moved nearer to or.

farther from the string'so that the tuft will The roll I) is provided at one end with a pulley n which, lSbBltBd by means of the cord 46 to the pulley 0 mounted on the shaft-47.

. The'shaft 47 carries a worm48 which drives a worm Wheel p. Secured to the worm wheel 7) is a gear wheel 9 driving a gear wheel r provided with a crank- W. This crank is connected atjone end to aconnecting rod 100 and the opposite end of said rod is conneeted to one end ofthe two armed lever atQhaving at its lower end a fork 101 taking overa spool 102 fixed on the shaft 103 of,

the roll I). 'The rotation of the roll 1) imparts movement to the worm 48 which in turn operates a crankr which through the connecting rod 100, lever and spool 102 moves theroll 7) axially so that during the rotating of the roll 7) it is moved backward and forward longitudinally in order that the tuft may not always engage the same place At the front of the iinstrument the group III of strings 5O operated by a suitable piano action the sounding box 35 of which is common to both-groups II and III.

These strings are actuated by the bank of keys, t comprising 'keylevers :31 each of which is provided with 'an upwardly di rected arm under spring pressure on which is pivoted to a hook lever. under pressure of the s n'ing, In the hook of lever 54; engages the curved and notched upper endo the hammer shank 56 mounted on ,arail55. hen akeyin bank t is depressed its arm 52 is noved against the stress of its spring carisingdihe hook lever .54 to leave the. notch inthe end of the ham mer shank 56 causing the hanin'i'er to operate against its respective string. 'The dampers 57'perta1n1ng to each string are mounted on spring arms 58 in such a manner that When a key 51 of the bank If is depressed its respective damper moved from lever 30,is a. knob or pad 31" which supports a vertical secured to atransverse rail 59 which by means of the cords 60- is connectedtothe right and left hand knee levers 61 and 62 guided-0t course over suitable rollers,see

the strings. All the damper arms 58 are Fig. 3', by means of whicltall the dampers can be removed from'the string snnultaneously. The levers 61 and 62 for the altering Y oi the strength of tone are readily operated.

by the knees of the player. I .g

In this instrument where the strings are.

pressed against ring bows it is sometimes 7 desi'a'blc to use pneumatic pressure produced by means of bellows operateddiy treadle or other suitable mechanical dos-ices. By rapidly actuating thebellows there is necessarily produced an over' pressure or by operating the suction bellows if the in strument be provided with suction inecluin- ISM, an over pressure of the outer {li'llltiS- pherein the suction conduits, whereln"the' strings are pressed with greater forceagainst the bow, independent of the pressure on the keys.- The same result can beobtained by maintaining a-constant vacuunr in a-surtable container or a constant} pressure by means of pedal operated "bellows or of suitable mechanicaloperated bellows and pi'io vidii'igin the main conduit a suitable throttling device which can be ad ustcd n accordance with the strength of tone.

Jteferringmore particularly lo'lfig. l

there is shown mecha'nisx'n for movingthe' strings against the bowsby means ofsuit-f able pneumatic or suction apparatus. The string supports 5 are eachconnected'by suitable rods 69 to the suction bellows-G3 a ice ranged above the cylindrical soundingbox- 1. These bellows are each connected by a pair of pipes 64 through a val\'e,65,to a pipe 195 '66 common to all" of the bellows 63. 'Ihe pipe 66 isconnected by pipe-67 to the main suctionbondult 68. Each valve 65 is held I normally closed by-aspring 71 and-is urged against the stress of its spring to connect the pair of pipes 64 by means of 'tl'ie cord 70 passing over a suitable pulleyysaid'cord being connected to the endof that key leverpertaining to the string. Vhen a pull is exerted oncord 70, pipes 64 belonging to aparticular bellows are connected]'byvalve 65 and place the bellows G3 in-connectioi'l with the suction conduit 68 thereby causing the 1 bellows to collapse, operate the rod 69 and move the string support outward to cause the string to press against the bow, the: sup- .port being hinged by any suitable hinges 6 and 7'. As soon as the key is released' the spring 71 moves the valve 65, thereby freeing the lower pipe 64 and permitting" the outside air to enter the same s hereby the bellows is. permitted to expand under the action of its spring 7 2 to move the'string support 5 in an opposite directionaw ayfrom the bow. a, I

'equal length and at varying angles to one ,ed therein, hairs stretched between the hold the strings out of contact with the how 'mcans to connect each bellows with the conduit.

a ring bow, means to rotate the same, and a ,movable parallel to the above each bar, a rod connecting each bar What I'claim as my invention and dewith a bellows, a conduit common to all the sire to secure by Letters Patent is: j 1. A- ring bow comprising a ring frame, hairs stretched across the same in chords of pipes leading from the conduit, and valves normally closing the conduit pipes adapted to connect the latter with the bellows pipes. 8. A piano violin having in combination keys for operating the violin strings, a series of low-tone strings, a brush tuft secured to each of the latter, a sounding board for said another and means tochange the tension of the hairs. V

A ring bow comprising a ring frame, a, plurality of ir 'lependent supportsmounted thereon, hairs stretched across the frame on the supports in chords of equal length and at varyingangles .to one another, and adjustable tensioning' members connecting the hairs in groups. erated by the keys to present the tufts to 3. A ring bow comprising a ring frame. the roller, a. set of piano stringsinounted on grooved pins and tightening screws mount- 5 the opposite side of the sounding board and a piano action in front of the piano strings for] operating the latter.

9. A. piano violin having in combination keys for operating the violin strings, a' series of low tone strings mounted above the keys, a sounding board for said low tone strings, a brush tuft secured to each of thelatter, a rcsincd roller in proximity to the tufts, means to rotate the roller, means to move the latter axially, a' vertically movable pin supiinity to the tufts, means to rotate the roller,

screws and a pair of pins in equal chords, said hairs being spaced apart by the grooves in said pins.

' 4'. In a piano violin, the combination with a ring bow, means to rotate the same and a stationary QYlllit'll'lCtll sounding board mount ed within thebow, of a plurality of bars pivotally connected with the board. each sepag ratcly movable parallel to itself, a string stretched on each bar, .means to norn'ially erposed between the tuft and pin adapted -to be moved by the latter into engagement with the tuft. 4

10. A piano violin having in combination and means-to swing the bars on their pivots to bring the. strings into contact with the bow.

5. In a, piano violin,'the combination with a ring bow, means to rotate the same, and a of low tone strings mounted above the keys, stationary cylindrical sounding board mount- 5 a sounding board for said low strings, a col within the bow. of a plurality of bars 2 brush tuft secured to each of the latter, a connected with the board and movable par-i resined roller in proximity to the tufts, allel to the axis thereof, string supports 1 means to rotate the roller. means to move the mounted on the bars, :1 st ring on each bar latter axially, a vertically movable pin supstrettched on the supports, and 'means to ported on each of said keys, a spring intermove the bars independently of each'other to posed between the tuft-and pin adapted to bring the strings into contact with the bow. be moved by the latter into engagement with 6. In apiano violin, the combination with the tuft, and means tolshift the springto a ring bow, means to rotate the same. and 'a and from the. low tone strings. stationary cylindricalsoundingboard mount- 11. The combination with a rin bow, and ed within thebow, of a plurality of bars means to rotate the same. of a plurality of connected with the board and movable par string supports each having a string allel to the axis thereof, string supports stretched thereon. means to move the supmounted on the bars, a strin on each bar ports to presentthe strings to the bow, keys stretched on the supports, a bllowsconnectfor operating said moving means, a tremoloed with each bar, a main airconduit norlever pivoted on each string support, adaptmally disconnected from the. bellows, and ed to engage the string, and n'ieans independent of the keys for operating said tremolo levers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, l have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHANN BAJDE.

7. In a piano violin, the combination with stationary cylindrical sounding board mounted within the bow, of a plurality of independent bars connected with the board and axis thereof, strings a bellows mounted stretched on the bars,

means to move, the latter axially, means opiorted on each of said kevs and a s )r1n 1nl D i keys for operating the violin strings, a series bellows, a pipe leading from each bellows,

low tone-strings, a resined roller in prox 

